Application of Bolo Ties to Personal and Decorative Articles

ABSTRACT

A bolo tie or decoration attached to a cord may be attached to a bag such as a purse, a backpack, pliable briefcase, an article of clothing, a decorative pillow, etc. In one embodiment, the article has a hole through which the cord may be inserted from the outside of the bag and then knotted or otherwise secured from the inside of the bag. Another embodiment uses features of the article, such as casings for bag handles or hardware wherein the cords attached to these features such that the cords of the bolo tie are threaded or looped and then secured. The cord of the bolo tie may be tied or looped around a handle of the article. The bolo tie or other decorations are removable to allow for interchangeability yet once the bolo tie is attached to the bag, the bolo tie is secure.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to personal and decorative articles, such as purses, clothing, backpacks, pillows, etc. having an attached bolo tie and a method by which to removably attach the bolo tie to the article.

A bolo, also called a bola tie, is a type of necktie consisting of a piece of cord or braided leather with decorative metal tips or aglets (aiguillettes) secured with an ornamental clasp or slide. Bolo tie slides and tips in silver have been part of Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni silversmithing traditions since the mid-20th century. In the United States bolo ties are widely associated with Western wear, and are generally most common in the western areas of the country; in fact, the bolo tie is the official neckwear of Arizona and New Mexico. Traditionally the bolo tie is men's wear in lieu of a necktie. There exists a desire to display the bolo tie other than around the neck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is an article for carrying other articles or for wearing or displaying, the article having an outside of durable material with an outer surface and inner surface and, if a bag, an inner compartment for carrying personal belongings, the article made from a durable material, the bag having an outside and an inside into which to place articles; and a bolo tie removably attached to the article. The bolo may be attached to the article through a reinforced hole in the durable material through which one or more cords connected to the bolo tie are inserted and then knotted against either the inner surface of the durable material or the inner compartment to secure the bolo tie onto the article. The cords of the bolo tie may be tied or looped tightly around a handle, a loop, a strap connected to the article. The bolo tie may further be attached to the article by threading the cords of the bolo tie through any casings sewn or otherwise attached onto the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an article having an attached bolo tie in accordance with several embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the method by which a bolo tie can be attached to an article in accordance with an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the attachment of a bolo tie to an article in accordance with an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of attachment of a bolo tie to an article.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of another embodiment of attachment of a bolo tie to an article.

FIGS. 6A and 6B provide greater detail of reinforcement of a hole by which a bolo tie can be attached to an article in accordance with an embodiment as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an article 180 having a bolo tie 100 applied to the outside of the article. A bolo tie 100 is typically a jeweled piece of jewelry having a decorative front face 114 and a back face 118 (not shown in FIG. 1) onto which a leather cord 130 is threaded and looped. The ends of the leather cord 130 may be covered with jeweled or smithed tips or aglets 134. Traditionally, the aglets 134 are made of silver. The decorative front face 114 of the bolo tie 100 is made of silver and has a distinctive piece 120 of turquoise or coral or other precious and semi-precious materials mounted onto the silver 124 or other metal or support for the stones. Further traditionally, the bolo tie 100 is worn by men as a necktie. The leather cord 130 need not be leather and can be vinyl, cloth, hemp or other synthetic or natural corded material; it is understood that the phrase leather cord 130 as used herein is intended to encompass cords of other materials as well. The leather cord 130 is typically braided, sometimes employing elaborate braiding techniques such as used by cowboys and caballeros.

The disclosure herein relates to the secure application of a bolo tie 100 onto an article 180, such as a purse or a backpack or a briefcase or luggage, an article of clothing such as a vest or a cowboy or other hat, a decorative article such as a pillow or throw. The article 180 may be constructed from a durable material such as leather, vinyl, CORDURA®, canvas, nylon, polyester, GORETEX®, ballistic fabric or other durable synthetic or natural material; even metal. In this embodiment of FIG. 2, the article 180 has a hole 210 on the outer surface 184 of the outside durable material of the article 180 for attachment of the bolo tie 100, such as between the handles 220 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, hole 180 is shown as a circular hole but it need not be circular but may be elongated, or a slit; nor need it be a single hole 180. A single circular hole 210 is only one embodiment.

The durable material of the article 180 has reinforcing 212 around the perimeter of the hole; The hole 210 may be reinforced with a grommet 212 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 or with reinforced stitching or braiding, such as the braiding used with the leather cord 130, or with a circular, rectangular or irregularly-shaped piece of metal or plastic 614 that may a greater thickness than a grommet and that may be covered with the durable material. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate reinforcement of the hole 210 using an additional piece 620 of durable fabric or leather. The metal or plastic 614 for reinforcing the hole 210 is placed onto the perimeter of the hole 210, such as on the under- or backside of the outer face of the article 180. A second layer of fabric or leather 620 may be glued, cemented, sewn or otherwise affixed onto the article and the metal or plastic 614 on the under- or backside of the article 180. The metal or plastic 614 may also be placed on the outer surface 184 of the article and a second layer of fabric or leather 620 may cover the ring from the outer face 184. The second layer 620 would then be visible and can be used for additional decorative purposes. The second layer 620 of fabric of leather need not be the durable material from which the article is made. The hole 210 is reinforced by the metal or plastic 614 being sandwiched between two or more pieces of fabric or leather and the attractiveness of the article is enhanced because no metal or plastic is visible. In FIG. 2, the looped cord 130 is inserted through the hole 210 from the outside to the inner surface of the durable material or to an inner compartment whereas in FIG. 3, separate ends of cords 130 having the aglets 134 are inserted individually through the hole 210.

The hole 210 may also be of sufficient diameter or other dimension so that the aglets 134 can be inserted and the cord 130 is snug against the inner surface of the durable material at the reinforcing 212 of the hole 210. One embodiment is that the hole 210 be reinforced with one-way teeth allowing the cord 130 to be easily inserted from the outside of the article to the inner surface of the durable material or to an inner compartment of the article but if the leather cord 130 were to be pulled from the outside of the article, the one-way teeth would clasp or bite at the leather cord 130 so that the bolo tie 100 could not be easily removed. In any event, a person carrying the article or wearing the article 180 would be able to detect the tugging necessary in an attempt to remove the bolo tie 100 from the article 180. Braiding and knotting techniques may further be employed to reinforce the hole. There may be two holes, one for each strand of the bolo tie 100 or there may be more than two holes. In another embodiment, the holes may be smaller to accommodate a wire, a metal or other rigid pin attached to the bolo tie 100.

After insertion of the cord through the hole 210, the cord 130 may also be knotted against the inner surface of the durable material or an inner compartment of the article. The cords 130 may be knotted on the reverse side of the hole 210 and there are many known braids and/or knots, e.g., there are knots such that when the cords are pulled the braids/knots become tighter such as a sheep shank knot. In any event, it is preferable that the knot not be easily untied. The knot of the cord 130 must be larger than the hole 210 so that the knotted cord 130 could not be pulled through the hole 210 from the outside of the bag 180.

FIG. 4 provides detail of yet another embodiment to secure the bolo tie 100 to the article 180. As shown, the bolo tie 100 is placed on the outer surface 184 of the article 180 approximately symmetrical between casings 410 a, 410 b although the bolo tie 100 may be placed at other locations on the outside of the article 180. Casings 410 a, 410 b are sewn or otherwise affixed onto the outside of the article 180; FIG. 4 illustrates one view of the article 180, on the opposite view (not shown) of the article 180, there may be similarly placed casings 410. In this instance, one tube or strap 420 a, 420 b is inserted into an upper opening 412 a, 412 b of a respective casing 410 a, 410 b and pushed through a lower opening 414 a, 414 b of the casing and knotted 424 a 424 b to secure the tube 420 a, 420 b onto the article 180 to form a handle 220. The other end of each tube or strap 420 may also be inserted into and through a similarly placed casing on the opposite face of the article 180 in order to provide carrying handles for the article 180. The choice, number and placement of casings 410 onto the article 180 are not limited to that shown in FIG. 4; casings 410 may be sewn or affixed onto the inside of the article 180 or a lining of the article 180 or in an inner compartment of the article 180; the tubes or straps 420 may crisscross and be inserted into and through an adjacent casing on the opposite face to form an X-type handle 220. Casings 410 need not be adjacent, need not be on opposite faces; need not be vertical as shown in the FIGS. Also as illustrated herein, tubes or straps 420 are of the same durable material as the article 180, but one will appreciate that tubes or straps 420 need not be of the same material as each other or as the article 180 and need not be tubular, but could be any synthetic or natural cording or rope or even lengths or strips of natural or synthetic fabric. Indeed, tubes or straps 420 may be braided cords of a larger or same diameter as the cords 130 attached to the bolo tie 100. The embodiments of attaching a bolo tie 100 into and through casings 410 on the article 180 are not limited to that shown in the illustrations.

FIG. 4 illustrates the leather cord 130 of the bolo tie 100 being inserted through one opening 412 of a casing 410 and pushed through the casing and out of the other opening 414. The leather cord 130 may be secured at the other opening 414 by, e.g., knotting it with the knots 424 of the tubes or straps 420 or knotting it by itself. The insides of the casings 410 may also be made or have thereon a directional fiber, VELCRO® or small teeth such that removal of the tubes or straps 420 and the cord 130 is difficult.

Note that in the embodiments illustrated, the bolo tie is abutted up to and is in close physical contact with the outer surface of the durable material of the article so that the bolo tie does not move on its own, such as swinging. This is a preferred attachment to prevent theft of the bolo tie. However, in other situations, a user may prefer to have the bolo attached by the cords to the article, but still be able to be swing freely. The bolo tie 100 may also be attached to the article 180 by looping or tying the cords 130 around any handles 220, straps 420 or loops or hardware integral with or removably attached to the article 180. An example of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 5.

Further note that the embodiments shown in the figures and as described herein need not be mutually exclusive. After inserting cords 130 of the bolo tie 100 through the reinforced hole 210 and then knotting or otherwise securing the cords 130 against an inner surface of the durable material or an inner compartment of the article 180, as in FIG. 2, the remaining cord 130 with the aglets 134 can be threaded through the casing 410 as in FIG. 4 or tied, looped around a handle 420 as in FIG. 5. A bolo tie 100 may tied around a handle 420 and then the cords 130 may be secured through a hole 210 or a casing 410 or not. Note further that the article is constructed so that the bolo tie 100 is removable from the article. Regardless of whether the article is a purse or backpack or a vest or pillow or briefcase, a user may want to change bolo ties. The embodiments of the article described herein easily facilitate and are intended for easy replacement of the bolo tie onto the article yet once the bolo tie is in place it is secure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ore more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. An article of durable material comprising: the durable material having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a bolo tie removably attached to the article.
 2. The article of claim 1 further comprising: a hole in the durable material through which one or more cords connected to the bolo tie are insertible, and the one or more of the cords of the bolo tie knotted against the inner surface of the durable material to secure the bolo tie onto the outer surface of the article in proximity of the hole wherein the bolo tie is removable by untying the knotted cords.
 3. The article of claim 2 wherein the hole is reinforced with metal or plastic sandwiched between a first durable material and a second durable material.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein one or both the first durable material and the second durable material are different from the durable material of the article.
 5. The article of claim 2 wherein the hole is reinforced with stitching
 6. The article of claim 2 wherein the hole is reinforced with braiding.
 7. The article of claim 1 further comprising: one or more casings affixed to the article, the casings having a first opening and a second opening; the bolo tie having one or more attached cords, one cord inserted into the first opening of one of the one or more casings and pushed through the casing emerging from the second opening of the one casing, the one or more cords removably secured at the second opening of the one casing wherein the one or more cords can be unsecured to remove the bolo tie.
 8. The article of claim 7 further comprising: one or more tubes/straps also fed through a respective casing, one end of a tube/strap inserted into an opening of its respective casing, extending through the respective casing and emerging from the other opening of the respective casing, the tubes/straps secured at the other opening to prevent the tube/strap from slipping out of the casing wherein the one or more cords can be unsecured to remove the bolo tie.
 9. The article of claim 8 further comprising: the cord and the tube/strap being secured together.
 10. The article of claim 8 further comprising the cord and the tube/strap being secured separately.
 11. The article of claim 7, the casing affixed to the outer surface of the durable material.
 12. The article of claim 7, the casing affixed to an inner surface of the durable material.
 13. The article of claim, 1, the bolo tie having one or more attached cords and the article having a handle and the one or more attached cords tied onto the handle of the article.
 14. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a purse.
 15. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a backpack.
 16. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is clothing.
 17. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a pillow.
 18. An article comprising: a bag having at least one handle/strap that can be grasped by a person to carry the bag; and a bolo tie with a cord, the bolo tie removably attached to the outside of the bag.
 19. The bag of claim 18 further comprising the cord secured around at least one handle/strap of the bag.
 20. The bag of claim 18 further comprising the cord inserted from outside the bag through a hole in the bag and the cord is removably secured within the bag.
 21. The bag of claim 18 further comprising a casing through which the cord is threaded. 